BAGHDAD, Dec 28 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi army has recaptured Ramadi city, provincial capital of Ramadi Province, from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Iraq's Joint Operations Command announced on Monday.
The army raised the Iraqi flag over the government offices at the heart of the liberated city, it added.
The city of Ramadi has been liberated from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), said spokesman of Iraq's Joint Operations Command Brigadier Yahya Rasool on Monday.
The Iraqi Armed Forces raised the Iraqi flag over the government complex in Anbar, Rasool added in a statement.
The Operation for liberating Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar Governorate, continued over three months with participation of the army, counter-terrorism forces, rapid deployment forces, Popular Mobilization Forces, the air force and tribal fighters, he added.
Operations will continue to liberate all Iraqi cities captured by ISIL, he noted.
The Iraqi forces had recaptured the government complex on Sunday, but they delayed announcing the victory a day to remove explosive devices inside the building and raise the flag.
This is the first major victory since the Iraqis liberated Tikrit, capital of Salahuddin Governorate, six month ago.
Now, ISIL only controls one major city in Iraq, Mosul, capital of Nineveh Governorate, in addition to scattered towns in Kirkuk, Salahuddin and Anbar.
The next step for the Iraqi forces is to clear pockets that could exist here or there in Ramadi. (end) ahh.msa